Santa Monica police seeking witnesses to suspicious death of 18-year-old

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (KABC) -- The Santa Monica Police Department is seeking any witnesses to the suspicious death of an 18-year-old in the area.

Police responded to a call of an unconscious victim on the ground with a head injury at about 5 a.m. Sunday in the 1300 block of 16th Street, authorities said. Upon arrival, the victim was pronounced dead by paramedics.

Authorities later identified the victim as Juan Castillo.

Detectives were investigating a possible link to the investigation with an earlier radio call. At about 12:45 a.m., SMPD officers went to an area in the 2100 block of Pico Boulevard regarding a possible shooting. Officers discovered evidence of a shooting but no victims or suspects were located.

The investigation was ongoing and detectives were interested in speaking with anyone who was in the area, police said. Anyone with additional information was asked to contact the SMPD at (310) 458-8491.